Getting your teeth fixed can seem like an overwhelming endeavor at first, considering how many cosmetic dentistry options are available. While the journey to a perfect smile may take anywhere from a single day or up to a few years for extensive dental work, new and evolving technologies ensure the process can be seamless and rewarding. About 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth, so the world of cosmetic dentistry has been crafting safer and stronger options for tooth replacement each year. If you want to replace a tooth or multiple teeth, you need to make the fundamental decision between dentures and dental implants. In this blog post, we’ll look at the benefits of dentures vs implants.

Aesthetic Differences

Let’s begin with a basic definition of each option. Dentures are a removable set of teeth, custom-cast to your teeth. Dental implants, on the other hand, are crowns placed on small metal implants in your mouth. These are much more permanent and have become increasingly popular these past few years. While dentures still give off the allure of real teeth, dental implants usually look far more realistic due to their permanent nature. While dentures are false removable teeth, dental implants are permanent tooth crowns.

Procedure Differences

In the case of dentures vs implants, dentures have a much simpler fitting procedure. Your mouth may be cast 2 or 3 times to get the perfect fit, and your dentures are ready for you to wear. Dental implants require much more of a surgical procedure to properly be set. There are quite a few steps to get your jawbone and teeth ready for the new crowns. While a dental implant procedure is more lengthy than the one for dentures, it is sure to bring longer lasting and individualized results.

Functionality and Life Expectancy Differences

While both methods of tooth replacement have adequate functionality in terms of eating and supporting your facial structure, dental implants boast a list of qualities that dentures simply can’t measure up to. Dental implants can last as long as your natural teeth with the recommended care, while dentures can only last five to eight years. Dental implants also serve as natural, rooted teeth. This makes their functionality in eating comparable to your regular teeth, whereas dentures may slide around or move at times.

All in all, choosing between dentures and implants completely depends on your situation. If you need a fix quickly and easily, dentures may be the best choice. However, if you are ready to start the journey of a permanent, lasting, and fully-functional set of teeth, dental implants may be more suitable. If you have any other questions about what’s best for your smile, give PS Dentistry a call today!